The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-04-07
AT A NEGRO FUNERAL.
Ceremonies of Old Slavery Days Still
Prevailing in tho South.

Ceremonies of Old Slavery Days Still
Prevailing in the South.
Not long since was visiting ono of the
towns i'll upper South Carolina. l and q
friend wero taking an afternoon stroll into
the adjoining country. We had proceeded
sono distanco and were passing through a
dense wood, when suddenly my companion
stopped and nervously inquired: "What's
that!' | came to q halt, and listened. A
weird, mournful sound fOated through the
trees AMI reached our ears. 1t seemed to
come only q short distance; appeared to en-
anato from tho copse on the other side Of the
road. We crossed over, and followed, bent
upon investigating what it was. We had
scarcely gained the opposite thiCket when we
dobOuched into one of those country burial
grounds which are to be found near every
hamlet in South Carolina.
1t was O strange picture that met our sight,
and one that belonged more to heather lands
than our own civilized country. There
around newly made grave, about twenty
five negroes were collected. They all held
hands and were slowly moving to and fro
while they walled forth dirges, and at inter
walls would ejaculato wild, incohcrent words.
Il the midst of the circle, at the head Of the
grave, all old woman sat who rocked back
ward and forward. Her eyes rolled wildly,
and she moved in mechanical way. This
Was the widow Of the deceased, and it was her
required part in the ceremony to loudly moan
at appointed intervals during tho singing.
Something in this way their hymn sounded
as nearly as I could catch the words:
De white horse he rode
Wild de sickle in he hand,
And slew down our brudder
From among our earthly band
moan. sister, moan!
And here the widow would reintroduce her
heathenish incantations. These were kept ur
for some time, when suddenly they ceased
and the negroes prostrated themselves upon
the ground, while the minister, tall, very
dark negro, stood and offered up prayer
After the ''amen" was uttered they rose and
two of the number took from basket near
some articles with which they decorated the
grave, as if they were placing upon the tomt
floral offerings They then slowly formed il
procession and silently marched out of tbs
inclosure. My friend and [, curious to decide
what the peculiar mole of grave decoration
was, proceeded to the spot where an old mar
was shouldering his spade to quit the place.
"Why, old man." said I, "what are those
things they lave left on the grave? Bottles
shoes, jug! Why, what does it all mean!"
"Well, boss" said the ebony grave digger
with an air of Importance, "you see, we puts
de articles dat de departed brudder uso to use
on de grabe for to keep away do bad sperrits
and 'spose it is sort OBJ 'spectful way ol
treating de memory OBJ de lost sister or bIud
der. You sec, da1s de bottle dat he take the
medicine froln when he be sick. And dars ,:e
jug It had de last dram he drunk fore he
joined de temperance meetin', an de boots
sposo is de shoes dat he gwine to change fol
dc golden slippers dat he put Oh when he jinc
dc BAN up yander," and beam of placit
faith Illuminated the old black face
1t certainly was strange sight. Here were
numberlesS graves, all bearing the same pict
ureSque decorations. Children's graves were
covered with broken toys, tin horns, gaudlJ
colored clay cats, dogs and owls. One mound
was almost beat to the ground with age, anC
on it rested in eiiapidation an Old hat and the
remnants of a banjo, also clay pipe, and {
coon skin. Near by them was the grave OF
blacksmith, with the implements OF his Graf
wedged in the ground, and rusty horse shoe.
formed a circle around the mound.-Atlaute
Constitution.